NGO Blames 2% Men’s Death On Smoking

The Executive Director, Youth Action on Tobacco Control and Health, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO),  Dr. Seye Omiyefa said that 2 per cent of yearly  deaths of men in Nigeria  was related to tobacco smoking.

Omiyefa said in Lagos last Sunday that “recent statistics derived from some government hospitals in Lagos revealed that at least two men die each day from a tobacco-related disease.

“The 2012 Tobacco Atlas, the world’s most comprehensive analysis of tobacco-related activities, said this is the most preventable cause of death in the country and globally,’’ he said.

He said the government spent a lot annually on tobacco-related diseases

The director quoted the British American Tobacco Nigeria, in 2006 as saying that “Nigerians consume about 14 billion cigarettes every year.”

He said that the level of consumption had increased drastically as the 2012 Tobacco Atlas revealed that Nigerians smoked about 17 billion cigarettes annually.

Omiyefa said the Tobacco Atlas described the figure as “a tremendous increase over the period of six years.

“The atlas shows that 21.7 per cent of youths in the country are exposed to second hand smoking in their homes and as such are at risk of cancer and other allied diseases.”

Omiyefa urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sign into law, the Nigerian Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) passed by the National Assembly in May, 2011..

Omiyefa said that the bill, when signed into law, would rescue many Nigerians from tobacco-related deaths.

“The provision of the bill will help reduce the death rates from second-hand smoking, also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke, which is responsible for one of every six tobacco deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.

“It will also affirm the rights of non-smokers to a clean and safe environment. Non-smokers working in bars and restaurants, club houses, hotels and hospitality business will be protected from the hazard of tobacco smoke as they go about their daily constitutional guaranteed duties, “ he said.

Omiyefa said that the president would fulfil its commitment to make Nigeria smoke-free by signing the bill.

“This will make him a hero and will be a major achievement for his administration, “ he said.